THE number of away fans at Anfield and Goodison Park, when rivals Manchester United come to town, is set to be cut amid safety fears.

Members of the council’s licensing committee are due to vote next week on cutting United’s away allocations for this coming season and beyond.

The Old Trafford club have had allocations at Anfield cut before but this is believed to be the first time such a move has been taken for their games at Everton.

The Licensing Committee have been asked to adjudicate on the issue of ticketing after the Ground Safety advisory group, made up of council officials and the police, raised concerns about fans persistently standing and blocking aisles.

Everton kick off their Premier League season on Monday, August 20, against United, with the game having been moved to an 8pm start for TV.

If passed as expected, the council’s ruling will see around 200 less away fans in the Bullens Road Stand.

When United visit Anfield on Sunday, September 23, they will be given 1,965 tickets, down from an away following’s usual allocation of 3,015.

The report set to go to the council said: “In general, most away supporters who visit Everton either do not stand or do not stand in gangways; however, this is not the case for Manchester United.

“EFC played Manchester United on October 29, 2011. The away spectators had the usual allocation in the Upper and Lower tier of the Bullens Road Stand (approx 3,125).

“The Licensing Unit attended the game and noted that, in spite of the efforts of the Club, the gangway . . . in the Upper Tier (nearest the Park End Stand) was closed over by spectators standing in the gangway.

“In previous seasons some encroachment into the gangways here had occurred but it was minimal. This game saw an increase in that activity.”

Regarding Liverpool FC, the report said: “In general terms, whilst the issue of standing of away supporters (and home supporters at certain games) occurs on a regular basis by a number of teams, the issue of standing in gangways had remained limited to Manchester United; until the 2011/12 season.”

The report says Anfield saw similar problems last year when Manchester City visited.

Away numbers were slashed for United’s defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the FA Cup at Anfield last January because of the issue.

United responded by cutting Liverpool’s allocation for the Premier League game at Old Trafford two weeks later by a third.

The Reds were given just 2,100 tickets, rather than the normal 3,000-plus.